Canucks-Sabres matchup recalls lockout-era AHL playoff series

‘The clubs last met Oct. 17, 2008, when Thomas Vanek had a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win over the Canucks in Buffalo. But flip the calendar back to the NHL lockout. There was more than just the odd jab or gab during eight regular-season AHL games and the playoffs in which the Manitoba Moose dispatched the Rochester Americans in five games of the second round. “I remember Juice [Kevin Bikesa] taking Vanek out in that series and I remember being in [Derek] Roy and [Jason] Pominville’s face a lot,” recalled Canucks winger Alex Burrows. And [Paul] Gaustad was doing the same with Kes [Ryan Kesler]. It was a lot of fun back then, but this is another stage.”‘